A Baby And A Betrothal
WANTED: HUSBAND & DADDY Serious Candidates Only!Katie Garrity is proud of her work at her Life is Sweet bakery, but it's high time she showed the town of Crimson that she's more than just "The Cupcake Lady." She wants to be "Mrs." and "Mommy" so badly she can't stand it! But in the small mountain town, the pickings are slim…until the one who got away returns.As a forest ranger, Noah loves protecting the places and people he loves—he just can't commit to forever. Katie has been his best friend since high school, but when did she turn into such a lovely woman? And is that desire he feels? Still, Crimson holds too many memories, and Katie wants things Noah can't give. But after one explosive night, it just may be too late. Only nine months will tell…
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Kiss his best friend?
His whole body hummed with desire. Her eyes reflected the same heat. Had it always been there and heâd been too blind to notice it?
âKatie,â he whispered, âI want to kiss you.â
He expected her to walk away. To be the voice of reason.
Instead she leaned forward and kissed him. She nipped at the corner of his mouth then traced her tongue along the seam of his lips.
Where had homebody Katie Garrity learned to kiss like this? He pulled her against him, deepened the kiss and fell back against the couch, taking her with him.
His hands hiked up her sweater to the clasp of her bra. With one quick movement he unhooked it.
Katie giggled against his mouth. âSomehow I knew you'd be good at that. Loads of experience, I imagine.â
To his embarrassment, Katie didn't have to imagine. Noah made no secret of his no-commitment flings. What was he doing? This was his friend. âWe shouldn'tââ
âWe should.â She pressed her hand over his mouth. âI want to know what else you're good at.â
* * *
Crimson, Colorado: Finding homeâand foreverâin the West
MICHELLE MAJOR grew up in Ohio but dreamed of living in the mountains. Soon after graduating with a degree in journalism, she pointed her car west and settled in Colorado. Her life and house are filled with one great husband, two beautiful kids, a few furry pets and several well-behaved reptiles. Sheâs grateful to have found her passion writing stories with happy endings. Michelle loves to hear from her readers at www.michellemajor.com.
To the Special Edition readers.
You are the best ever, and I feel blessed to be part of your world!
Contents
It was pretty much a given that a first date was a disaster when getting ready for it had been the best part of the evening.
Katie Garrity picked at the pale pink polish on her fingernails as she tried to look interested in the man sitting across from her. Owning a bakery was tough on her hands, so sheâd tried to make them look more feminine tonight. Sheâd blown out her hair, applied makeup and even worn a dress and heels. All to look datable, the kind of woman a man would want to marry and have babies with. Her stomach squeezed at the time and effort sheâd wasted. Or maybe it was her ovaries clenching.
Her date tapped his fingers on the table and her gaze snapped to his. âI have a couple of friends who are on gluten-free diets,â she said, hoping she was responding to the question heâd asked. âIâve been working on some recipes that would appeal to them.â
âIâm talking about more than gluten-free.â Her date shook his head. âI mean a full overhaul to a raw-foods diet. You would not believe how fast your colon cleans out whenââ
âGot it,â Katie interrupted, looking over his shoulder for the waitress. The man, Mike, the project manager from nearby Aspen, had already given her too many details on what happened to his digestive system after a few bites of bread.
Why had she agreed to this date in the first place?
Because one of her customers had offered to set her up, and Katie wanted a date. A date that might lead to more, might give her the future she so desperately craved but couldnât seem to manage on her own.
She knew almost everyone in her hometown of Crimson, Colorado, but her popularity hadnât helped her love life in recent years. Men might be addicted to the pastries she created in her bakery, Life is Sweet, but that was where their interest in her ended.
âYou should think about changing your shop to a raw-foods restaurant. The one in Aspen is doing quite well.â
Katie focused on Mike, her eyes narrowing. âAre you suggesting I close my bakery? The one I inherited from my grandmother and has been in my family for three generations?â She had nothing against vegetables, but this was too much.
âSugar could be considered a drug,â Mike continued, oblivious to the fact that steam was about to start shooting from her ears. âItâs like youâre running a meth lab.â
She felt her mouth drop open. âOkay, weâre done here.â She stood, pulled her wallet out of her purse and threw a few bills on the table. âThank you for an enlightening evening. Have a safe drive back to Aspen.â
Mike blinked, glanced at his watch then up at her. âShould I call you?â
âIâll be busy,â she answered through gritted teeth. âBaking in my âmeth lab.ââ
She turned for the bar. Although theyâd met for dinner at the brewery that had opened in downtown Crimson a few months ago, Mike had insisted they both order water while droning on about the contaminants in microbrewed beer. She needed a good dose of contaminants right about now.
